VZCZCXRO7473
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #5376/01 2850043
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120043Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0138
RHFJUSC/CUSTOMS WASHDC//EXRBS//
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 4230
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 005376 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH 
CBP/INA FOR RWATT, JGOUGE 
USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH
SUBJECT: EXBS: INTERNATIONAL BORDER (LAND) INTERDICTION 
TRAINING II (IBIT II) TRAINING, ARANYAPRATHET, THAILAND 
SEPTEMBER 17-21, 2007 
 
BANGKOK 00005376  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
¶1.  An invitation cable was presented to the Kingdom of 
Thailand to conduct a 5-day course on International Border 
(Land) Interdiction Training (IBIT II) at a designated land 
border in September 2007. The invitation was accepted for 
training to occur September 17-21, 2007.  The location was 
identified as Aranyaprathet, Sakaeo Province, on the 
Cambodian border with Thailand. 
 
COURSE OBJECTIVES 
 
¶2.  The IBIT II course objective is to further the 
informational exchange with partner nations by reinforcing 
inspectional techniques and methodologies with foreign 
counterpart law enforcement agencies in the nations' own 
operating environment.   Emphasis is placed on a 
multi-layered enforcement approach, as utilized by U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in its own operating 
environment.  Skills and knowledge required for carrying out 
effective inspection, detection, cargo and passenger 
processing, and contraband seizure are covered.  The end goal 
of the program is to build an internal train-the-trainer 
capacity and eventually infuse the curriculum into the formal 
training academy of the host nation. 
 
¶3.  The course is designed to provide advanced level hands-on 
training for foreign customs and border guard agencies in the 
detection, identification, and interdiction of contraband, 
with an emphasis on countering the cross-border proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction.  Practical exercises comprise 
the majority of the training and include:  search of 
vehicles, pedestrians, commercial cargo and large commercial 
carriers, as the host country determines appropriate and 
applicable to its' operating environment.  All course 
materials were in Thai and available for the participants to 
take home.  Room reservations were available, at no cost, to 
those participants who chose to take advantage of the 
convenience on being on-site with the training venue. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS 
 
¶4.  The training began on Monday, 17 September 2007, and was 
held at the Indochina Hotel in Aranyaprathet, Thailand.  A 
total of eighteen participants attended the course. 
Participants represented the Royal Thai Customs, Royal Thai 
Army Burapha Task Force, Border Patrol Police, Sakaeo City 
hall, Sakaeo Provincial Police Division, and the 
Aranyaprathet Immigration Office.  The training session was 
opened by the Vice Governor of Sakaeo Province, who stressed 
the importance of cooperation between the United States and 
Thailand, and offered his thanks for the training that was 
being conducted.   A representative from each participating 
agency gave a 10-15 minute overview of their areas of 
responsibility.  Several of the agencies provided a copy of 
their presentation to the in-country advisor, William (Bill) 
Comley, for informational purposes. 
 
¶5.  Blocks of instruction were presented on CBP Targeting, 
Tools and Technology, Examining Containers, Seals, Targeting 
and Risk management, Behavioral Analysis, Commodity Exams, 
Concealment Methods, Document Analysis, Imposters, Passenger 
Selectivity, Passenger Admission, Post Seizure Analysis, and 
Explosives.  Classroom practical exercises and film clips 
were incorporated throughout the week to re-enforce classroom 
instruction and allow the participants to exercise their 
knowledge and skills in the subjects.  Particular interest 
was expressed regarding handling pedestrian traffic (false 
documents, behavioral analysis, etc.) and targeting 
techniques (use of intel, analysis, etc.). 
 
¶6.  Classroom instruction and on-site practical exercises, 
utilizing inspection and detection equipment were conducted 
on Tuesday and Wednesday, 18 & 19 September 2007.  The 
inspection and detection equipment, which had been previously 
procured by the Department of State, included contraband 
detection kit(s), and personal radiation detectors (PRDs). 
 
BANGKOK 00005376  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
CBP also provided multi-tools.  The contraband detection kit 
contained a fiber optic scope, density meter (buster), 
inspectional mirror with flashlight, and a laser range 
finder. 
 
¶7.  On Thursday, 20 September 2007, the training team and 
in-country Advisor visited the Port of Entry (POE), at the 
request of the Aranyaprathet Immigration Office to observe, 
critique, and advise on their operations.  The U.S. 
representatives arrived shortly after the POE opened to 
passenger traffic.  The operations were observed for 
approximately 1-hour.  Recommendations to the Aranyaprathet 
POE included, but were not limited to, gaining better control 
over the entry point by restricting entrance through one main 
corridor, preventing access through alternate points of 
entry, and capturing personal information in their automated 
system on entry VISAs - it appeared that a rapid display of 
an individuals photo was the only information used in 
authorizing entry. 
 
¶8.  The training team and in-country Advisor returned to the 
POE with the delegation the same day.  The participants were 
allowed to utilize the training received in the classroom, 
such as, container inspection techniques, targeting, 
selectivity, and concealment methods.  They were also 
provided further training on the use of the fiber optic 
scopes, busters, and laser range finders.  The equipment was 
left at the POE to allow the Thai officers an opportunity to 
accustom themselves with the equipment and use the equipment 
in their daily operations.   The training team and in-country 
participants were provided photos of their use of the 
equipment on Friday morning. 
 
¶9.  The course was very well received by the participants. 
They were eager to participate in class discussions, 
practical exercises, and question and answer sessions.  The 
participants appeared committed to learning skills related to 
improving job performance and with sharing information about 
the issues they face in their jobs. 
 
¶10.  On Friday, 21 September 2007, the Aranyaprathet Port 
Director accepted the donation of one CT-30 kit and PRDs. 
Graduation was held with each participant receiving a 
certificate of completion for the course along with a class 
photo.  A CD was also provided to each agency which included 
photos of activities that had occurred throughout the week. 
 
ANALYSIS OF PARTICIPANT CRITIQUES 
 
¶11.  The critiques were very positive.  The participants 
thought the subject matter and lessons to be beneficial 
(especially those related to container examinations, 
inspection techniques, passenger selectivity, and field 
exercises).  The critiques revealed that the participants 
felt the curriculum was beneficial and useful, and expressed 
a desire for additional border security-related training with 
recommendations that the training be offered at other POEs. 
There were no suggested modifications or improvements to the 
training. 
 
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
¶12.   Based upon the positive feedback and enthusiastic 
participation by the students, it is recommended that 
additional training be provided to Thai law enforcement 
personnel with border security-related responsibilities at 
other critical POEs to include sea and air ports of entry. 
Instruction in targeting and risk analysis, false documents 
and behavioral analysis would address areas of particular 
need.  In addition, it is recommended that future training(s) 
be held at a central location and travel to the POE occurs on 
the day of the practical exercise.  In having a central 
location, it would alleviate the problem of participants 
being required to leave the training venue to continue with 
their daily work.  It would also allow all participants an 
opportunity to graduate with their fellow officers versus 
being pulled from the class on the final day of the course. 
 
BANGKOK 00005376  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶13.  This report was prepared by the CBP team in coordination 
with the EXBS Advisor. 
BOYCE